AN- Not much to say, here. . . Except I must explain some things real quick.

Yes, Irkens can cry, first of all– it's just not water, I suppose. Mopiness of Doom has it scripted that it looks like Zim might cry. That's implying that Irkens can cry. . . and there was that one other time in. . . Mysterious Mysteries, I think. His eyes got all teary for a while. Psssh, if a robot can cry, so can Zim.

Secondly, in my headcanon, Irkens can and do sleep. Just. . . less than humans. For example, a full grown human needs about eight hours of sleep, whereas the Tallests would need around four. Zim needs about five hours of sleep, but that's really the bare minimum. He can and most likely will sleep longer. So THERE.

Dib turns over in bed again, almost groaning as he groggily opens his eyes. Keef and Quinn have finally– finally!– turned the lights off and went to bed, but Dib still can't sleep. He's totally exhausted, but sleep just isn't coming to him. And this thunderstorm really isn't helping matters. Every time he thinks he's about to fall asleep, a loud boom! takes over the room, and he's awake again.

He sits up in bed, rubbing one eye. He almost groans. He's certainly not getting any sleep at this rate. So he'll do what he always does– occupy himself with something else in hopes that he'll be so exhausted afterwards that he'll just pass out. He reaches over and takes his glasses off of the tiny table by the side of the bed, placing them on the bridge of his nose. Then he grabs what was placed under his glasses– a bright red spiral notebook. Except it's not so bright in the dark. The color looks more like a faded crimson in this light.

Dib reaches under his pillow and pulls out a small pocket flashlight. He ignores the feeling he gets in his stomach when his fingers brush over the Zim doll– it's the same feeling he got when he saw the slight smirk on Zim's face earlier that night. He presses a button on the back of the flashlight, and a dim light flickers on. He smiles slightly and pulls a pen out of the notebook's spiral. He opens the notebook to the first page. He puts the pen up to his mouth and thinks for a moment, waiting for an idea to come to him. The smile fades as it does, and he looks down, scrawling the words down on the top line.

Things that suck about summer camp

The rest just sort of comes to him, and he almost grins as the words just pour out onto the page. God, this summer camp must be more awful than he thought it was. And that's saying something.

1. Zim is here.

2. So is Keef.

3. I'm in the same cabin as both of them.

4. This thunderstorm is loud and I can't sleep.

Boom! Dib jumps slightly as the thunder takes him completely by surprise. He glances back at the list, before closing the notebook and setting it back down on the table. He then removes his glasses and gently places them on top.

The thunder booms again, and Dib lets out the smallest groan as he lays down. He's extremely tired, but there's no way he'll get any sleep with this storm around.

A sound catches his ear. It's soft, and quiet, and he can't understand why or how he heard it over the deafening patter of rain along the rooftop. The sound repeats itself, and Dib finds himself leaning towards the origin of the sound to hear it more clearly. It sounds almost like a whimper, or maybe a sob. . . the latter is confirmed as he hears quiet sniffling.

The thunderstorm must be scaring Quinn. But no, Dib vaguely remembers Quinn saying thunderstorms excite him. Additionally, the sound isn't coming from above him, but rather, from the other side of the room. But Keef had agreed with Quinn, and Keef definitely doesn't seem like the type to lie. . .

Of course. It all makes so much sense. This is the rain we're talking about, after all.

Dib rises from his pillow, and says; softly, carefully, unsure, ". . . Zim?"

A slight gasp is heard from the other side of the room, and the boy falls silent. At least, until the sound of thunder overtakes the room once more. Then he shrieks, and Dib sees something– no, someone– flinch from up in the top bunk.

Yep, that's Zim, alright. Dib frowns, feeling a knot grow in his stomach. "Zim?" he repeats, more confidently. "Are you okay?"

Dib hears him sniffle, before saying, in a broken tone, "Z-Zim is absolutely fine!" It's a sharp whisper, and Dib frowns even more at the hostility in it. But there's also something else in Zim's voice– pain, maybe? Oh, no, it just can't be– because the great and powerful Zim isn't afraid of anything.

Dib shifts in his bed, turning his head so he can get a clear view of Zim– he's in his sleeping bag, but he's sitting up, his knees pulled tightly to his chest. Dib bites his lip uncomfortably; he can almost see the insecurity looming over Zim's head. "You don't sound fine."

Dib sees Zim's arms tighten around his knees. "I assure you, Zim feels perfectly–"

Boom! Zim gasps, and that gasps quickly fades into a sob as he buries his face in his knees. Dib frowns, feeling oddly compelled to. . . to. . . well, he doesn't exactly know what, but whatever he wants to do, it doesn't involve hurting Zim. It's a weird, unfamiliar feeling, and it takes Dib completely by surprise. He feels like it shouldn't, but it does.

"Zim. . . are you crying?"

Zim starts to say something– Dib doesn't know what, but it sounds like an objection– before getting cut off by the thunder again. Dib hears a sharp intake of breath, followed by a choked out sob.

Dib looks down at his sleeping bag. "I didn't know Irkens could cry."

Zim sniffs loudly before speaking. "Well, they can. There. Are you happy, human?"

Dib doesn't know what to say. Sure, he's glad to know the information, but he's not really happy; in fact, he feels the opposite. But Zim is his enemy– his worst enemy, at that– how could Dib feel sorry for that egotistic, overzealous, short-tempered jerk?

Another loud burst of thunder captivates the room. A quiet shriek is heard from the top bunk, and Zim chokes out another sob. Immediately Dib is at war with himself. He can't just sit here and let Zim suffer. . . but comforting Zim just doesn't seem natural. . . but sometimes Dib should step out of his comfort zone; that's what summer is all about. . . but this is Zim we're talking about; this is his bitter enemy. . . but Zim really needs his help. . . but Zim is perfectly capable on his own; at least, that's what he always says. . . but Zim is a liar. . . but that means he deserves this. . . but–

Boom! A shriek and a sob. Dib hunches his shoulders. It's not hard to see why the thunder frightens Zim– in fact, it more seems like it overwhelms him. He must have not expected the rain; heck, Dib didn't expect it, either. That means he didn't bring paste, so he must be really stressed. His emotions are already on end, and then the thunder. . .

Dib frowns, realizing he does feel bad for Zim. The green boy is practically being tortured by now, and all Dib is doing is just sitting here and watching!

Oh, God. . . He's going to hate himself for this tomorrow. . .

"Zim. . . If you want. . . ," Dib hesitates, becoming aware of just how fast his heart is beating, "You can sleep in my bed."

Zim is silent for a second. Is he considering it? A few quiet sniffles are heard, and then he says, "Zim would never be caught dead sleeping near the likes of you!"

Cue thunder. Zim shrieks again, sniffing a few times as he lets a few stray tears fall down his face. He grips his sleeping bag, trying to sort his thoughts out. This thunderstorm, with each blast of thunder, shakes his head, jumbling up his thoughts so he can't think straight. His head spins. Dib is actually offering to help him. This is a rare occurrence in Zim's life, and usually an occurrence he avoids when he can. But dear Tallests, he really needs Dib right now.

And it sort of just flies into his head– he needs Dib. Not Keef, not Quinn; just Dib. Accepting help from either of them would be uncomfortable and awkward, but Dib knows Zim best, whether Zim would like to admit it or not. And silently, he does. Dib knows him best. And right now, he needs him.

"On second thought. . . ," Zim mumbles, "I could use a bit of assistance. . ." He wriggles out of his sleeping bag and crawls to the other side of his bed. Reaching the ladder, he drapes one foot over the edge of the bed, finding his footing on the first step. He's taken a few steps down when–

Boom! Before Dib can even think, Zim has rushed over to him and flung his arms around his neck, burying his face into his shoulder. Dib feels tears wet his pajama shirt, and he hesitantly wraps his arms around Zim, helping him onto the bed. He unzips his oversized sleeping bag and pulls Zim into it, letting the Irken make himself comfortable. Apparently comfortable is gripping Dib's shirt as he nuzzles up to his chest.

Dib's sleeping bag may be big, but it's still a tight fit. Another boom of thunder rolls through the room, this time accompanied with a short flash of lightning. Zim's gasp is lighter this time, and he grips Dib's shirt tighter as he tries not to cry. They're closer together then they've ever been, and it's odd. . . but it's not half bad. In fact, it's actually sort of. . . pleasant, in some strange way. Dib gently rubs Zim's back, trying to calm him. Zim makes some sort of whimpering sound, but he doesn't appear to be in pain.

He lays his head against Dib's chest, as if declaring some sort of peace– a truce, at least for now. Dib actually smiles a little as another shot of thunder rings through the room, and lightning flashes in the windows. Zim tenses, an his breathing grows heavy, but he's managed to calm down.

The night continues on like this, until at last it seems Zim has fallen asleep. All that crying must have worn him out– he's sleeping so peacefully. Dib smiles slightly at him– his breathing light, his eyes gently closed shut, his wig slightly ruffled from the events of the day. Part of Dib wonders what in the hell he's thinking, while the other part decides to do something that surprises even Dib.

He leans forward, just slightly, and plants a small peck of a kiss on Zim's forehead.

He leans away, eyes widen slightly as he realizes what he just did. He doesn't know what came over him. Oh, gosh, maybe his dad is right. . . maybe he really is insane. That's the only explanation for it; or at least the only one that seems to make any sense.

Dib just sighs lightly and closes his eyes, hearing thunder boom again. He settles himself, relaxing his posture and regulating his breathing. He'll probably forget about this tomorrow morning. . .

He hardly notices, or realizes, that his arms as still wrapped around Zim.

AN- 1,807 words, yeah! That was way too much fun to write. XD This is the most ZaDR you'll get for a little while. . . I've got a few scenes planned for day two, but nothing very big.

And so the list begins. . . for real this time! NOW each chapter will begin with the list thing. . . last time was a false alarm, LOL.

I've started the next chapter, but I'm not too far through it. I just really wanted to upload this.